"The former Annex space on Orchard Street was up and running for the recent CMJ music fest as Backstage Bar. Turns out that was only a temporary venue designed to take advantage of all the bands in town. The management team behind Crash Mansion is currently renovating the space, and the redo will be dubbed Tammany Hall. A recent peek inside found plywood galore - the new owners promise a spiffed-up space with a large stage in the main room, a Prohibition-style basement lounge and an upstairs balcony with its own bar that will feel similar to the "second floor of Stanton Social." A kitchen has been added, so you can expect bites with the numerous beers that are planned for the taps. And though there' s no official launch date yet, the swank-ified space will be open here and there for private parties as work progresses (152 Orchard St.)." [Zagat]

Pete's Candy Store photos by Amanda Hatfield, Crash Mansion photos by Jessica Amaya, Pianos & Mercury Lounge photos by Chris La Putt, words by Rachel Kowal

Oh Land @ Rebel NYC (more by David Andrako)

You've been following the CMJ adventures of multiple BV contributors for two weeks now, including the day by day reviews from Rachel Kowal. Before too much more time passes, here is the conclusion of Rachel's week (with the end of day four and all of day five), and assorted pictures from four other shows all rolled into one big post. Check it all out, below....

Continue reading "Rachel's CMJ 2010 recap conclusion w/ lots of pics (Lia Ices, Sarah Jaffe, Ume, Robbers on High Street, Buke & Gass, more) "

by Bill Pearis

Fake Male Voice @ Glasslands in February (more by Jacob Blickenstaff)

Thanks to everyone who came out to our day party at Pianos yesterday. There were almost too many highlights to count. We've got four more parties still to come, three of which are today/tonight. Lots of great options all around today (10/23). I'm trying to highlight some of the ones you may not know about.

DAYTIME:

BrooklynVegan has another free day party today, this one on the harder-edged tip with Los Angeles' Nebula, Brooklyn's Naam, BV day party veterans Crystal Antlers, Goes Cube (read our interview with the band) and Austin's awesome Ume at Fontana's (105 Eldridge, NY, NY) today from 1 - 7. First band on at 2. Set times and flyer below. Free Miller beer and Vitamin water.

Over at Crash Mansion, there's a cool mid-day party (4 - 7) put on by the folks at Beyond Race with the lovely and mellow Helado Negro, Kiss Kiss, L.A. power poppers Army Navy and London's awesome Pete & the Pirates. who played a great set at the Bell House on Wednesday Night. Don't forget, Pete & the Pirates also play the Brooklyn Vegan Bowery Presents day party Saturday (10/24) at Pianos.

There's a lot going on in Brooklyn today too. The new Kemado Studios called The Co-Op (87 Guernsey St, Brooklyn) (which I hear is a pretty cool space) has Harlem, Viva L'American Death Ray Music, and Smith Westerns.

The Village Voice is putting on a day party at Knitting Factory with Javelin, Portland's Shaky Hands, Headlights and Orba Squara.

And then at Bruar Falls there's a kind of potentially amazing line-up, including Fake Male Voice (Tunde of TV on the Radio), mi-gu (Yuko of Cornelius and Plastic Ono Band) with Sean Lennon and Yuko Honda, as well as Ladybug Transistor, James Husband (Jamie of Of Montreal) and Hard Nips. This one is not free, $8 admission. Starts at noon.

Night stuff HERE. Fliers and set times below....

Continue reading "CMJ 2009 - Bill's Friday daytime picks"

TheRumpus.net is having a launch party at Crash Mansion in NYC tonight (2/5). According to the ticket page, there will be "Music by Will Sheff of Okkervil River, Timothy Bracy of the Mendoza Line and Beth Wawerna of Bird Of Youth" and "Comedy by: Kristen Shaal of Flight of the Conchords, and
Michael Showalter from Comedy Central's Stella" and "Readings from authors: James Frey, Andrew Sean Greer, Jonathan Ames, and This American Life's Starlee Kine".

Also tonight, also comedy: Variety Shac @ UCB with recently added special guest Zach Galifianakis.

Also coming up at UCB: Klaus made a list.

Also comedy with special guests: three editions of Mike Birbiglia's Sleepwalk with Me this month.

Also a show that Kristen Schaal is playing: Flight of the Conchords at Radio City Music Hall (twice)

Also a show that Kristen Schaal is playing: Eugene Mirman's book release party

Also a show Will Sheff is playing: Coachella

Also starring Michael Showalter (and Todd Barry, Paul Rudd, David Wain, Eugene Mirman, Leo Allen, and Superbowl commercial star Jon Benjamin): "The Weekender" video below...

Continue reading "Will Sheff, Kristen Schaal & friends playng Crash Mansion, Zach Galifianakis at UCB & other stuff"

by Black Bubblegum

HR @ Crash Mansion, CMJ night 1 (by Mark Iantosca for Free Williamsburg)


Bad Brains have announced the opening bands for their previously discussed pair of shows at Irving Plaza. Re-reuniting NYHC heavyweights Killing Time and crazies No Redeeming Social Value are playing the first, and heavier, night (11/5). Trouble Andrew and a little band that you may have heard a little about around here, Rival Schools, are playing night two (11/6)! Tickets are still available for both 11/5 (here) and 11/6 (here).

Rival Schools play (a longer set) at Mercury Lounge later that SAME NIGHT. They also play Maxwell's two days earlier. Both of those are sold out.

Rival Schools recently played the BrooklynVegan Day Party at The Knitting Factory during CMJ while HR of Bad Brains played a CMJ show of his own. I got the chance to interview Walter Schreifels & Sammy Siegler of Rival Schools, and you can check out part one here. Part two is coming soon.

Speaking of Bad Brains... former drummer Chuck Treece and his skatepunk band McRad (see Powell/Peralta videos from the 80s) have a few area shows this week, including tonight (10/27) at Europa (tickets here) and 10/29 in the Old Office at the Knitting Factory (tickets here).

All Bad Brains dates below...

Continue reading "HR played CMJ, Rival Schools, Killing Time, No Redeeming Social Value opening for Bad Brains @ Irving Plaza"

by Black Bubblegum

Bad Brains @ CBGB in 2006 (more)

Tickets just went on sale for a SECOND Bad Brains show at Irving Plaza on 11/5. That's the day before the previously mentioned one on 11/6 for which tickets are also still available.

Bad Brains frontman HR recently played a Rocks Off cruise and he will be one of many artists playing a show in NYC for CMJ. That show is at at Crash Mansion on October 21st which is the same day he releases his new solo album, Hey Wella, on DC Hardcore Records. The Arms, Goes Cube, Team Robespierre and Die! Die! Die! are also on the Crash Mansion bill. Tickets are on sale.

Sigmund Droid, secret guest, open bar, Crash Mansion. Tonight (May 6, 2008).
FREE WITH RSVP.